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Posted on: October 23, 2018

Merriam Police Officer Receives Second Life Saving Award

Just 10 months to the day after receiving a Life Saving Award for reviving a Merriam resident after he suffered a heart attack, Master Police Officer Kristin Jasinski accepted a second Life Saving Award at the Oct. 22 City Council meeting.

Earlier this month, MPO Jasinski applied the Heimlich maneuver on a 2-year-old girl, who was choking on a meatball at IKEA Restaurant. MPO Jasinski dislodged the food and saved the young girl’s life.

MPO Jasinski wasn’t even on duty yet when she heard the dispatched call and headed over to IKEA.

“I was already dressed out and getting my equipment and car loaded for the shift. I wasn’t in service yet, but the station parking lot is just right next door to IKEA, so I knew I could be there in a matter of seconds,” MPO Jasinski said.

MPO Jasinski said every second is critical when dealing with someone who is choking. She said her highest priority was opening the little girl’s airway. MPO Jasinski said between her military experience and working for the Merriam Police Department, she’s spent a lot of time training and teaching these types of moments and it just becomes a natural process.

“We are very proud of the time and effort MPO Jasinski puts into training for her opportunities to help people,” Merriam Police Chief Michael Daniels said. “She has been able to help two families with medical emergencies this year alone.”

MPO Jasinski said she’s humbled to receive this second Life Saving Award.

“My job is to help people who are in various stages of a crisis,” MPO Jasinski said. “If I can consistently make a positive difference in the lives of people we assist, that’s all the reward I need.”

MPO Jasinski said she’s thankful to work for a police department that values work ethic as her career comes with a lot of “ups and downs” in regard to emotions and stress.